May 2007 update on food hygiene legislation

Friday 25 May 2007

Report on a Council Working Party meeting on 21 May 2007

This report updates stakeholders on the continuing negotiations at European level on the Commission’s proposal to exempt certain businesses with fewer than ten employees from the requirement to operate procedures based on the HACCP principles. The discussions largely focused on a compromise text proposed by the Presidency.

A blocking minority of Member States formed against any change to the present food hygiene regulations. Some Member States (those who saw merit in the Presidency compromise approach) indicated a need for further work on points of detail in the compromise text.

The Presidency concluded this should be taken to COREPER (the Committee of Permanent Representatives – the next level in the Council hierarchy, which considers political rather than technical issues), within the next two or three weeks to gauge what scope exists for making progress. It is possible that COREPER deliberations will take place on the basis of the current or a further Presidency compromise, or simply be general in nature; the Presidency will reflect on this.

A copy of the compromise proposal text presented by the Presidency to Member States can be seen attached to a detailed report on the meeting.